Fitchburg-Leominster Airport – May 21, 1941

At 2:00 p.m., on May 21, 1941, a O-38E observation plane (Ser. No. 34-16) was taking off from Fitchburg-Leominster Airport for a photo reconnaissance flight, when it was hit by a strong cross-wind gust that pushed the aircraft off course and into a pile of dirt left by a construction crew. Although the airplane was demolished, the pilot, Captain Augustus Becker, and his observer, 1st Lt. Arthur L. Miller, escaped with only minor injuries.

The men were assigned to the 152nd Observation Squadron based at Hillsgrove Field in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Source: U.S. Army Air Corps Technical report Of Aircraft Accident #41-5-21-5